Monticello earns 44-6 quarterfinal win, plays in the semifinals this weekend

The Monticello Buckaroos earned a spot in the state semi-finals following a 44-6 quarterfinal win over Utah Military Academy Camp Williams on October 30.

The Buckaroos improved their record to 8-2 and will play in the state semifinals against Milford on November 7 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, with kickoff at 4:00 pm.

In the final game of the season at home, Monticello received the opening kick at their own 43 yard line and needed just one play from scrimmage to score with Brandt Mack running the ball 57-yards for an opening play touchdown.

John Leber added the point after kick to put Monticello in front 7-0 with 11:45 left in the first quarter.

Monticello’s defense didn’t even see a full play on the next possession as the center-quarterback exchange for Camp Williams was fumbled and recovered by Noah Dilts to give Monticello another possession at the UMA 39-yard line. 

Three plays later the Bucks would score on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Cache Young to Cash Mack. Leber would add the point after kick to make the score 14-0 with 10:23 left in the first quarter.

Monticello’s defense would force a turnover on downs after four plays to get the ball back at the 14 yard line. Monticello would score a touchdown but a hold would bring that play back and the Buckaroos would kick a 28-yard field goal to go up 17-0 with 7:00 minutes left in the first quarter.

Monticello’s defense would again make quick work of UMA with Tristan Burtenshaw recovering a fumble by the Marauders to give Monticello the ball at the UMA 19-yard line. 

The Bucks would cap the drive three plays later with a 10-yard touchdown run by Miles Coleman. Leber would add the point after kick to make the score 24-0 with 5:45 left in the first quarter.

UMA would move the chains once on their next possession but the drive would end with a Jaxson Breedlove interception at the Monticello 32-yard line.

The Monticello underclassmen were unable to move the ball however with UMA intercepting a pass to get the ball back at the Monticello 42-yard line.

UMA would go on an eight play drive but facing a first and goal at the five-yard line Coleman intercepted a pass in the end zone to give Monticello the ball at their own 20-yard line. 

Two plays later Coleman would have another explosive effort with a 74-yard touchdown run. Leber added the point after kick to make the score 31-0 with 11:07 left in the first half.

Monticello’s defense would again force a turnover on downs after four plays to get the ball at the UMA 36-yard line, but the Buckaroo JV offense was unable to move the ball and forced to punt giving UMA the ball back at the UMA 25-yard line.

UMA’s offense  would go on an 11-play 75 yard drive capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass to make the score 31-6 with 2:15 left in the first half.

Monticello would move the ball across mid-field and attempt a 43-yard field goal which was just a few yards shy of being worth an additional three points. The score would remain 31-6 at halftime.

To start the third quarter UMA would pick up one first down but then be unable to convert with Monticello forcing a turnover on downs and getting the ball back at the UMA 31-yard line. Two plays later Monticello would score on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Young to Brandt Mack, making the score 37-6 with 8:50 left in the third quarter.

UMA would go on a 12 play drive that would stall out on an unsuccessful 4th down try giving Monticello the ball at their own 42 yard line.

Monticello just needed one play with Coleman running through three tackles on his way to a 58-yard touchdown with Leber adding the point after kick to make the score 44-6 with two minutes left in the third quarter.

The score triggered a 35-point lead running clock mercy rule and would be the final score of the game.

Monticello’s offense was led by the running attack for the first time this season with the Buckaroos gaining 246 yards on the ground and 78 yards in the pass game.

Monticello’s running game was led by Coleman who gained 152 yards on eight carries with three touchdowns. Brandt Mack had 79 yards on three carries and Harlan Mack had 14 yards on one carry.

In the air, Young completed three passes on seven attempts for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Damon Bunker went one for four with one interception.

Brandt Mack had two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown, Cash Mack had a 33 yard touchdown grab and Breedlove had a seven yard catch.

Leber also went five for six on extra point kicks and kicked one field goal.

Defensively Leber led the team with seven tackles, while Canyon Christensen and Avery Hedrick had six tackles. Dilts, Coleman, Bunker and Bryson Adair had five tackles, and Breedlove with the interception.

Monticello improved to 8-2 on the season and is now headed to the state semi-finals. The #3 seed Buckaroos will face the #2 seed Milford Tigers. 

Milford defeated Monticello in Monticello earlier in the season by a score of 40-38, setting up a highly anticipated rematch.

Kickoff is Saturday, November 7 at 4:00 pm. The game will be video streamed online at https://sports.ksl.com/watch. You can also listen to the 92.7 FM crew broadcasting the game on Red Rock 92.7 FM, including at redrock92.com and an audio only stream online at StreamUtah.Live